Abstract:
“An early and open examination of the potential risks of a new product or technology is not just good common sense – it’s good business strategy.”

DuPont, Environmental Defense Create Framework for Nanotechnology

October 12, 2005

DuPont and Environmental Defense recently agreed to collaborate on a framework for the responsible development, production, use and disposal of nano-scale materials. Nanomaterials are 1 to 100 nanometers in at least one dimension and exhibit novel properties due to their small size. These materials hold great promise for new applications in materials, energy, medicine and other fields, but more needs to be known about their potential risks.

The intent of this framework is to define a systematic and disciplined process that can be used to identify, manage and reduce potential health, safety and environmental risks of nano-scale materials across all lifecycle stages. This framework will then be pilot-tested on specific nano-scale materials or applications of commercial interest to DuPont.

This agreement will begin to put into action the words of DuPont Chairman and CEO Chad Holliday and Environmental Defense President Fred Krupp in the June 14, 2005 edition of The Wall Street Journal: “An early and open examination of the potential risks of a new product or technology is not just good common sense – it’s good business strategy.”

DuPont and Environmental Defense have worked together on several projects over the last 20 years, including the Partnership for Climate Action, where DuPont cut greenhouse gas emissions by more than 70 percent while saving more than USD 2 billion in avoided costs.

Environmental Defense, a leading national nonprofit organization, represents more than 400,000 members. Since 1967, Environmental Defense has linked science, economics, law and innovative private-sector partnerships to create breakthrough solutions to the most serious environmental problems.